All our winter outage guides in one place: blizzards, freezing rain, staying warm, safe heating, power for winter and long outages in Canada.
- Start with the winter checklist, then read your storm type and heating safety.
- Never burn fuel indoors, and heat one small room.
- Be ready for at least 72 hours, as the Government of Canada advises.
Winter storms, ice and extreme cold cause many Canadian outages. This page collects our winter guides in the order you will need them.
Before winter
- How to prepare for a power outage in winter
- Winter storm prep checklist
- Winter storm grocery list
- Winter car emergency kit
- Store a power station for winter
- Power outage at Christmas
Storm types
Staying warm
- How fast a house cools down
- Sleeping warm in a cold house
- How to stay warm without power
- Heat one room safely
- Keep pipes from freezing
- Apartment or high rise in winter
Safety
- Carbon monoxide safety
- Propane heater indoors
- BBQ or camp stove
- Wood stove and fireplace
- Portable generator safety
Power for winter
- Run a gas furnace blower
- How many watts a furnace uses
- How many watts a chest freezer uses
- How long power stations last
- Inverter vs conventional generator
- Dehumidifier watts
- Calculate watt hours
If it lasts
Find your utility in the province and city guides.
Backup power picks (Canada)
Size the unit to your own load first: see the sizing guide.
Quick comparison
| Brand | Best for |
|---|---|
| BBLUETTI | Large lineup, expandable home systems |
| JJackery | Wide range, compact to home backup sizes |
Power stations and solar generators with fast charging. Compare capacity and warranty.
Larger capacity power stations that can run a fridge, with expandable batteries.
- Broad capacity range
- Expandable home-backup options
- Compare battery chemistry and stated cycle life
Popular portable power stations and solar kits for short outages.
- Has a Canadian storeHas a US store
- Small, mid and large models
- Compare capacity, output and warranty on the maker page
Quick answers
Where do I start for winter outages?
Start with the winter prep checklist, then read the guide for your storm type.
How long should I prepare for?
At least 72 hours, per the Government of Canada.
Is it safe to use a BBQ for heat?
No. Never burn fuel indoors.